Undocumented Lawyer Says He Would Consider Running For Governor Of California

Sergio Garcia, the undocumented attorney in whose favor the California Supreme Court ruled when he tried to obtain his professional license, told Efe that his aspirations include becoming governor of the Golden State.

"Insofar as it's legally possible for me, I'm thinking of launching a political campaign with the aim of eventually, perhaps many years from now, running for governor," he said.

In a unanimous decision on Jan. 2, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of a motion presented by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California guaranteeing that Garcia's license would be expedited.

"I'm very happy that little by little people are seeing the reality and the value of what has been achieved," said Garcia a few hours after learning of the ruling. "It opens the door for everyone, not just for me who was called upon to open it alone," the 36-year-old Mexican said.

Garcia says the lack of a work permit won't stop him.

"The law says I can't be anyone's employee and I can't take a job from a person who's here legally, but there's absolutely no law that says that I can't create my own job and open my own company, which is exactly what I've always dreamed about: being the owner of my own business," Garcia said.

Garcia entered the United States for the first time with his family when he was 17 months old and remained in the country until he was 9, when the family returned to Mexico.

Later, his father came back to the United States and obtained a residence visa under the 1986 amnesty law.

Garcia once again entered the United States at 17 and requested a legal residence permit, a procedure he has been waiting to see carried out for more than 19 years and the resolution of which is not expected until 2019.

A graduate of Cal Northern School of Law, Garcia passed the California bar exam in 2009 on his first try.

After being admitted to the bar and receiving a license to practice law in the state, however, the Justice Department opposed his admission due to his undocumented immigration status.